Bruins Report Card: Forwards

Here’s the second half of our Bruins
report card, which looks back on the first third of the season for
the Black and Gold’s forwards:

PATRICE BERGERON (B)8 goals, 5 assists, 13 points, plus-8, 27 GP

To the surprise of zero intelligent hockey fans,
Bergeron has done all the little things right in 2013-14.
That’s best exemplified with his 60.2 faceoff percentage,
which ranks third among all qualifying centers in the NHL. But the
point totals haven’t been up to No. 37’s standards.
That’s primarily a byproduct of Bergeron being on a line that
hasn’t fired on all cylinders quite yet.

On pace for: 13 points
Over/under: Over

GREGORY CAMPBELL (C+)1 goal, 3 assists, 4 points, plus-1, 27 GP

Campbell’s been a mixed bag in the first
third of the season. He’s third in hits (50) and second in
blocked shots (17) among Boston forwards, which is impressive
considering his ice time. However, he’s seen his faceoff
percentage drop for a third straight year (46.5 right now), took 17
games to record his first point of the season and has been beaten
soundly in each of his three fights on the year.

JORDAN CARON (D)1 goal, 0 assists, 1 point, minus-3, 11 GP

Caron started off the season strong with an
impressive showing on opening night and a followup performance that
saw him bury his first goal of the season. He hasn’t done a
darn thing since, going nine games without a point (many without
even putting a puck on net) and has become the team’s
full-time spare part up front, shy of the occasional insertion onto
the fourth line to shake some rust off.

On pace: 33 games
Over/under: Under

LOUI ERIKSSON (B-)5 goals, 9 assists, 14 points, plus-8, 22 GP

We’ll start with the good news: Eriksson
really started to come around in November. The bad news: In
what’s been a hot-and-cold first season in Boston, that month
of November saw him post zero points in six of the 14 contests. We
knew it might take time for him to develop chemistry with his new
comrades, and t seems like the B’s second line is ready for
launch, but one had to figure Eriksson -- who missed five games
with a concussion -- would be on pace for more than 45-or-so points
at this juncture.

On pace: 28 assists
Over/under: Over

JAROME IGINLA (B)5 goals, 10 assists, 15 points, plus-11, 27 GP

Much like Eriksson, Iginla’s numbers
aren’t quite where we probably thought they’d be, but
color me slightly more impressed with what the future Hall of
Famer’s shown so far. The goal total’s a bit
perplexing, as Iginla is second on the club with 71 shots and the
tide has to turn at some point. He’s fought (and won)
multiple times throughout the year, trails only Milan Lucic among
forwards with 56 hits. If strong games were a category, I might
venture to say Iggy’s been the B’s most consistent
forward. The points should start coming at a higher rate
soon.

On pace for: 15 goals
Over/under: Over

CHRIS KELLY (C+)3 goals, 4 assists, 7 points, minus-1, 27 GP

A poor man’s Bergeron is a good way to
describe Kelly, who’s a hair under 50 percent on the year on
faceoffs and has been a key cog for a penalty kill that had climbed
its way back to among the league leaders in November. It’s
looking more and more like that 20-goal season in 2011-12 is one
he’ll never be able to replicate but, at worst, Kelly’s
just short of realistic expectations in 2013-14 -- an assessment
based on his play at both ends of the rink. One has to think
he’ll bump into more points as his linemates, Reilly Smith
and Carl Soderberg, continue to develop chemistry.

On pace for: 12 assists
Over/under: Over

DAVID KREJCI (B)4 goals, 17 assists, 21 points, plus-9, 27 GP

Krejci came out of the gate like a man
possessed, notching 12 points in the first 10 contests. He
hasn’t quite sputtered out since then, but his nine points
over the last 17 contests are underwhelming. Boston’s
first-line pivot had a tough November and still hasn’t scored
a power-play goal, despite being a mainstay on the first unit. He
does, however, head into December with five points in the last five
games.

On pace for: 12 goals
Over/under: Over

MILAN LUCIC (A) 11 goals, 9 assists, 20 points, plus-10, 27 GP

The B’s best forward so far in 2013-14 has
looked motivated and mean on a nightly basis, making life rough for
opposing defenders. Lucic leads the club in goals and game-winners
and has managed to rediscover the blend of punishing hits and
consistent goal-scoring that made him the game’s marquee
power forward a few years back.

On pace for: 60 points
Over/under: Slightly over

BRAD MARCHAND (C)4 goals, 8 assists, 12 points, plus-6, 27 GP

Had he not closed out November with four points
in the last four games, Marchand probably would’ve warranted
a lower grade. Who’d have ever thought we’d be saying
that about Boston’s leading goal-scorer a season ago? No.
63’s been off since the moment the puck dropped, as his
offensive production has been bare bones and his trademark
feistiness and pest-like ways have been MIA. Maybe if we see more
of the latter it’ll benefit the former going
forward.

On pace for: 12 goals
Over/under: Over

DAN PAILLE (B)3 goals, 2 assists, 5 points, plus-2, 27 GP

Paille might’ve set the bar a little high
after scoring 10 times in 47 games last season. We’ve seen a
return to the norm for the winger in his fifth season with the
club. Paille’s point totals go hand-in-hand with
Campbell’s lengthy drought to begin the year. Because the
left winger has been extremely effective defensively during 5-on-5
play and while on the PK, he still warrants an honor-roll worthy
grade.

On pace for: 15 points
Over/under: Over

REILLY SMITH (A-)5 goals, 12 assists, 17 points, plus-3, 27
GP

If you predicted Smith would sit third on the
team in point heading into December, you’re a big fat liar
and I will never believe anything you say ever again. But
seriously, the former Stars farmhand has been quite the pleasant
surprise. What’s truly impressive about Smith's numbers is
the fact that he has spent two-thirds of the season on the
B’s third line and ranks seventh among forwards in power-play
time.

On pace for: 51 points
Over/under: Push

CARL SODERBERG (B-)3 goals, 9 assists, 12 points, minus-2, 21 GP

The Swedish forward is quickly becoming quite
the playmaker as he continues to adapt to NHL hockey. Soderberg has
developed killer chemistry with Smith on the third line and the
B’s second power-play unit. He could use some sharpening up
in his own end, but that will come with time and hopefully his
offensive game will continue to blossom.

On pace for: 9 goalsOver/under: Over

RYAN SPOONER (INCOMPLETE)0 goals, 2 assists, 2 points, even, 2 GP

Spooner looked closer to being NHL-ready than he
was when summoned to the NHL during his first full year of pro
hockey in 2012-13. The skilled center has been spectacular down on
the farm for Providence, but it’s too early to judge his body
of work for the 2013-14 campaign with the big club.

SHAWN THORNTON (B)3 goals, 0 assists, 3 points, plus-4, 25 GP

Thornton’s done exactly what’s
always expected of him so far this season, as he owns a 4-0
fighting record and continues to be extremely effective in the
pugilistic element of his role with the Black and Gold.
Furthermore, Thornton’s on pace to be back in that
double-digit goal range. No. 22’s been on the ice for just
two goals against this season in 210 minutes of play. That’s,
essentially, a 0.57 goals-against average for Boston when
Thornton’s on the ice.